What are your specific quirks and habits with collecting?

[conor912]

Mine have morphed over time. I used to be a strict no creases guy, now my focus is more on centering and registration. I suspect they will morph again at some point. I think I speak for a lot of prewar guys when I say I've learned to go more for eye appeal than technical grade.....but overall I've learned to enjoy lower grade cards, which takes a lot of the expense and paranoia out of collecting.

[shernan30]

It's kind of hard to explain the grades I collect. I'm a "I know it when I see it" type of collector. Some times a little crease is not an issue, other times I won't even pick it up to look. With a lot of my OJs I focus on how dark the image is and little back damage. For the rarer pose OJ a light image and back damage is acceptable.

I collect mostly pre war players who spent time on one of the many Columbus teams. Also working on Cincy teams sets of T205, T206, and T207. Just started a photo project to capture the 49 different Yankee/Highlander uniforms from 1903-1945. It seems every few months I shift to focus on one of these areas.

[sbfinley]

I'm very big on uniformity. I like my personal collection in SGC slabs, I like my sets in PSA slabs, and since I've started a modern Topps Chrome Auto collection I prefer them to be 9.5 10 with the chip on the front. This OCD has recently caused a dilemma with my signed cards. I previously collected them almost universally with the PSA Blue Flip. Now that PSA has changed their Blue Flip labeling I'm done with that service. Friday I received a shipment of 200 Ultra Pro magnetic one touches. When I finally get the nerve up I guess I'm going to crack all my signed cards out. The positive is I'll probably save ~$750-$1000 in authentication fees a year. The bad news is many of my signed odd ball and pre war won't fit so I'll likely ending up selling them just because. #firstworldproblems

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by conor912

Mine have morphed over time. I used to be a strict no creases guy, now my focus is more on centering and registration. I suspect they will morph again at some point. I think I speak for a lot of prewar guys when I say I've learned to go more for eye appeal than technical grade.....but overall I've learned to enjoy lower grade cards, which takes a lot of the expense and paranoia out of collecting.

This is very similar to my experience. I too was strictly a no crease person but I have learned that not all creases are equal. A small/light crease that doesn't go through the center is sometimes tolerable for me. Rounded corners don't bother me either. Centering, since it's the first thing that my eye notices, and registration are definitely the two most important for me.

I also can relate to the "I know it when I see it" collector as well. Many times a card has just hit me and I gotta have it steps in.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I also can relate to the "I know it when I see it" collector as well.

I 100% relate to this statement. There are any number of pre-set biases I may have-- love sharp corners, registration and color, don't like noticeable creases, avoid pin holes, and don't care much about centering... but all these preferences are subject to reexamination, or easing if I see something I simply like and want. I don't really consider this a "quirk" of mine, just preferences, and a sometimes willingness to veer from these preferences.

My truest "quirk", which I know may be sacrilegious to some, is that I keep a certain number of purchased cards unopened, often waiting for a special day-- a work success, a life occasion, etc-- to open and fully enjoy. I feel it extends my joy period.. there's the initial joy of the hunt when I search for and buy, then a nice little plateau of joy in knowing I've got a treat stashed away, and the final joy of opening and appreciating the card. If it is a high dollar card, I'll often peak just to make sure the correct card shipped (have once or twice caught shipping mistakes by doing this).

I know I'm a little crazy in doing this, but it's always worked for me. I also used to hoard a certain number of Christmas presents as a kid, opening some months later, so I guess this is just a continuation of that.

[Tripredacus]

Always want cards to go in pages. If something is strange shape, then I must find a page it can go into. If no page can be found, then I probably don't want it. Latest discovery, LJN Talking Baseball 1989 Topps cards fit perfectly into 5 panel postcard pages.

When it comes to card pre-1980, I care little for condition. I have no problem with having cards that are super beat up (resemble phone cards) or have writing on them.

That's all I can think of right now.